An Edmonton father accused of starving and physically abusing his two-year-old twin daughters – one of whom later died – pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old man, who can only be identified as D.L. under a publication ban protecting the identity of the children, also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and two counts of failing to provide the necessaries of life.

He had been charged with second-degree murder, but was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser and included offence of manslaughter with the consent of the Crown.

A sentencing hearing date is scheduled to be set Friday.

His wife, who can only be identified as M.B., is still facing a murder charge and is currently slated to go to trial.

The couple, who are landed immigrants from Algeria with permanent resident status, was arrested on June 12, 2012, and police described the case as “disturbing.”

According to agreed facts, the twin girls suffered “non-accidental inflicted physical injuries” and the “systematic and prolonged deprivation of nourishment.”

Court heard that at the time they were admitted to hospital, the then-almost-28-month-old girls “Baby M and Baby S” weighed the equivalent of six-month-old infants and their development and growth was stunted.

Court also heard that emergency responders to the family’s south-side home saw plenty of food in the fridge and cupboards and the couple’s nearly four-year-old son was found to be well nourished and healthy.

According to the agreed facts, some of the first responders were “shocked” at Baby M’s appearance and described her as “severely emaciated.” She was observed to have “very skinny legs and arms, visible ribs, scabs on her skin and both legs, marks on her groin area and bruising to her head.” She was also in cardiac arrest.

Baby S was noted to be “very skinny and unhealthy with a bump on her forehead . . . extensive bruising to her face . . . (she) appeared sickly and without any hair.”

Court heard both girls were found to have bruising and other injuries across their bodies.

Doctors later concluded Baby M had suffered a significant and devastating brain injury and recommended she be taken off life support. The Muslim parents refused on religious grounds and the matter ended up in court.

On Sept. 19, 2012, Alberta’s highest court ruled the comatose and severely injured child be taken off life support. She died the day after and an autopsy determined she died of blunt force head injuries and malnourishment.

According to the agreed facts, D.L. admits he failed to provide the twins with the necessaries of life by “actively participating in depriving them of food and other nourishment” and by failing to seek medical attention for their physical injuries and malnourishment, despite knowing that they required it.

He states he did not personally inflict any of the physical injuries to the twins, but admits that by leaving them in the home where they were being physically abused and malnourished and, by failing to seek medical attention for them, he endangered Baby S’s life and unlawfully caused Baby M’s death.

He also admitted that he had seen and knew about the injuries, but still continued to leave the twins “unprotected in an abusive unsafe environment.”

As Advertised in the Edmonton SUN

Father pleads guilty in 'Baby M' case

An Edmonton father accused of starving and physically abusing his two-year-old twin daughters – one of whom later died – pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old man, who can only be identified as D.L. under a publication ban protecting the identity of the children, also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and two counts of failing to provide the necessaries of life.

He had been charged with second-degree murder, but was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser and included offence of manslaughter with the consent of the Crown.

A sentencing hearing date is scheduled to be set Friday.

His wife, who can only be identified as M.B., is still facing a murder charge and is currently slated to go to trial.

The couple, who are landed immigrants from Algeria with permanent resident status, was arrested on June 12, 2012, and police described the case as “disturbing.”